Sony MDR-EX55LP earbuds photos

There may be better options in this price range, but the Sony MDR-EX55LP earbuds are still a good step up from stock 'buds for listeners who like balanced audio across a variety of genres.

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You needn't spend a lot to get a pair of headphones that's undeniably better than the stock set that came with your device. Case in point: the Sony MDR-EX55LP Stereo Headphones. These earphones will set you back about $30 only, and they offer a noticeable improvement in sound quality and comfort.

As you might expect of earphones in this price range, the Sony MDR-EX55LP earbuds are constructed of plastic and feel pretty cheap. However, you do get to choose from four color accents--black, blue, white, or pink--and the arm that feeds the cable into the earpiece has a metallic sheen that offers a glimmer of style.

Also, the 'buds are wrapped in a rubberized coating to help ensure comfort. This, combined with their small, round shape and Sony's inclusion of three sets of silicone sleeves (S, M, and L), helps with fit. We had no problems achieving a seal and wore the earphones comfortably for several hours.

As with the 36V, the 55LP's cord raises some concern for durability, since it is quite thin and coated in plastic. The fact that it terminates in an L-plug (gold-plated) helps allay this fear somewhat.